IMB Annual Reports
768 annual reports from Independent Monitoring Boards covering 171 establishments. IMBs provide independent oversight of prisons, immigration removal centres, and secure training centres. Source: imb.org.uk.
768
Reports
171
Establishments
757
With Key Concerns
Establishment Type
Reports by Year
Key Findings
99% of IMB reports flag key concerns.
Independent monitors cover 171 establishments
across prisons, immigration removal centres and secure training centres.
Coldingley
PRISON
Concerns
Staff assaults: 3
HMP Coldingley, a Category C resettlement and training prison, faced significant challenges this year due to accelerated prisoner churn, impacting safety, healthcare, and purposeful activity. While improved staffing led to better regime and communication, issues like widespread drug availability, delayed cell refurbishment, and slow mental health transfers remain key concerns. The Board noted positive efforts in staff-prisoner relationships and education but highlighted the need for systemic improvements in property handling and monitoring of progress.
Key concerns identified
- The destabilising effects of accelerated prisoner churn, impacting safety, behaviour, healthcare, education, and resettlement.
- Significant delays in the refurbishment project to install in-cell sanitation, leaving over a third of prisoners without facilities.
- The widespread availability of drugs and illicit substances across the prison site.
- The persistent challenge of staff retention and the impact of new immigration visa rules on newer staff.
- The slow transfer process for mentally unwell prisoners, often resulting in prolonged unsuitable segregation.
- Insufficient recording of use of force incidents on camera.
- The continued prevalence of property-related complaints due to inadequate handling systems.
- A 'loitering culture' with many men not engaged in purposeful activity during core hours.
- Significant delays in the refurbishment project to install in-cell sanitation, leaving over a third of prisoners without facilities.
- The widespread availability of drugs and illicit substances across the prison site.
- The persistent challenge of staff retention and the impact of new immigration visa rules on newer staff.
- The slow transfer process for mentally unwell prisoners, often resulting in prolonged unsuitable segregation.
- Insufficient recording of use of force incidents on camera.
- The continued prevalence of property-related complaints due to inadequate handling systems.
- A 'loitering culture' with many men not engaged in purposeful activity during core hours.
Coldingley
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 71
Assaults: 154
Staff assaults: 66
HMP Coldingley, a Category C resettlement and training prison, faced a challenging year marked by significant increases in violence, staff shortages, and poor living conditions for many prisoners. A third of the population continues to lack in-cell sanitation, relying on an unreliable night system, while staffing issues have led to more unplanned lockdowns and a decline in key work and purposeful activity. The Board also highlighted concerns about the rising demand for mental health services, the ineffectiveness of the ISFL wing, and the lack of progress for IPP prisoners.
Key concerns identified
- Significant increases in violence (prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, staff assaults, use of force) driven by population pressures, low staff visibility, and easy availability of illicit items.
- Unacceptable living conditions for a third of prisoners who lack in-cell sanitation and rely on an antiquated, unreliable night sanitation system.
- Kitchen facilities are largely unfit for purpose, with wet and unsafe floors and old equipment.
- Lack of independent external auditing for Discrimination Incident Reporting Forms (DIRFs) and general distrust in the complaints system.
- Vulnerable prisoners, including those on ACCT plans, are often held in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU), which is not a suitable environment.
- Staff shortages have severely undermined key work, leaving a quarter of prisoners without an allocated key worker, and led to reduced time out of cell and increased unplanned lockdowns.
- Rising demand for mental health services results in higher caseloads and longer waiting times for prisoners.
- The Incentivised Substance Free Living (ISFL) wing is overcrowded and ineffective in preventing illicit substance use.
- Low attendance and capacity utilisation in education and industries, coupled with blockages in prisoner transfers, hinder progression and resettlement.
- The increasing number of IPP prisoners feel 'stuck' due to limited opportunities for progression.
- Unacceptable living conditions for a third of prisoners who lack in-cell sanitation and rely on an antiquated, unreliable night sanitation system.
- Kitchen facilities are largely unfit for purpose, with wet and unsafe floors and old equipment.
- Lack of independent external auditing for Discrimination Incident Reporting Forms (DIRFs) and general distrust in the complaints system.
- Vulnerable prisoners, including those on ACCT plans, are often held in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU), which is not a suitable environment.
- Staff shortages have severely undermined key work, leaving a quarter of prisoners without an allocated key worker, and led to reduced time out of cell and increased unplanned lockdowns.
- Rising demand for mental health services results in higher caseloads and longer waiting times for prisoners.
- The Incentivised Substance Free Living (ISFL) wing is overcrowded and ineffective in preventing illicit substance use.
- Low attendance and capacity utilisation in education and industries, coupled with blockages in prisoner transfers, hinder progression and resettlement.
- The increasing number of IPP prisoners feel 'stuck' due to limited opportunities for progression.
Coldingley
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 60
HMP Coldingley, a Category C training prison, maintains a relatively open regime and positive staff-prisoner relationships, contributing to low self-harm levels. However, the Board notes a concerning rise in violence, use of force, and illicit substances, often linked to population pressures and insufficient new arrival checks. Significant challenges remain, including dilapidated older wings lacking in-cell sanitation, a struggling kitchen, and persistent issues with lost property and perceived disproportionality in treatment for some ethnic minority groups.
Key concerns identified
- Increase in violence, use of force, and debt/gang-related incidents, exacerbated by insufficient checking of new arrivals.
- Lack of effective and coordinated CCTV, particularly in older wings, undermines safety and hampers evidence gathering.
- Appalling and unhygienic conditions due to lack of in-cell sanitation in older residential blocks, with refurbishment delayed until at least 2026.
- Significant increase in illicitly brewed alcohol ("hooch") and manufacturing of new psychoactive substances (NPS).
- Coldingley's Care and Separation Unit (CSU) is dilapidated and frequently used for vulnerable prisoners due to the absence of alternative dedicated facilities.
- Concerns regarding food quality, faulty kitchen equipment, understaffing, and the withdrawal of special diets for food intolerances.
- Persistent issues with lost property during transfers, causing detriment to prisoners and increasing complaints.
- Disproportionality in the use of force on Muslim prisoners and the allocation of preferred jobs and accommodation to white prisoners.
- Lack of effective and coordinated CCTV, particularly in older wings, undermines safety and hampers evidence gathering.
- Appalling and unhygienic conditions due to lack of in-cell sanitation in older residential blocks, with refurbishment delayed until at least 2026.
- Significant increase in illicitly brewed alcohol ("hooch") and manufacturing of new psychoactive substances (NPS).
- Coldingley's Care and Separation Unit (CSU) is dilapidated and frequently used for vulnerable prisoners due to the absence of alternative dedicated facilities.
- Concerns regarding food quality, faulty kitchen equipment, understaffing, and the withdrawal of special diets for food intolerances.
- Persistent issues with lost property during transfers, causing detriment to prisoners and increasing complaints.
- Disproportionality in the use of force on Muslim prisoners and the allocation of preferred jobs and accommodation to white prisoners.
Coldingley
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 100
Assaults: 34
Staff assaults: 46
HMP Coldingley, a men's Category C resettlement and training prison, has largely recovered from pandemic restrictions, with prisoners now enjoying increased time out of cell and positive staff-prisoner relations. While refurbishment plans are underway and healthcare is well-regarded, significant concerns persist regarding the high volume of illicit items, the continued absence of in-cell sanitation in older wings, and the inadequacy of educational provision. The Board also highlights issues with prisoner property management, disproportionate use of force against Muslim prisoners, and a lack of control for the Governor over infrastructure projects and education contracts.
Key concerns identified
- The continued high volume of illicit items, including drugs, hooch, and mobile phones, leading to prisoner debt, violence, and bullying.
- The persistent absence of in-cell sanitation in the older wings, which is undignified for prisoners, despite a refurbishment programme underway but not due to complete until late 2026.
- The stubbornly high number of prisoners serving Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPP) well over their tariff, and a shortage of Category D prison places in southern England.
- The disproportionately high use of force against Muslim prisoners, consistent with regional and national patterns.
- Poor standards of educational provision, hampered by insufficient funding, inadequate contractual arrangements, and a lack of local Governor autonomy.
- The long-standing problems with lost and misplaced prisoner property, particularly during transfers, due to an antiquated paper-based system.
- Confusion and delays surrounding the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure projects, with central contractual control appearing slow and fragmented, leading to issues such as wings being without hot water for weeks.
- Inadequate CCTV surveillance in key residential areas, contributing to difficulties in combating bullying and violence.
- Failures in de-escalation of incidents and variable quality in key safety processes like ACCTs and CSIPs, partly due to a large proportion of new, inexperienced staff.
- The persistent absence of in-cell sanitation in the older wings, which is undignified for prisoners, despite a refurbishment programme underway but not due to complete until late 2026.
- The stubbornly high number of prisoners serving Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPP) well over their tariff, and a shortage of Category D prison places in southern England.
- The disproportionately high use of force against Muslim prisoners, consistent with regional and national patterns.
- Poor standards of educational provision, hampered by insufficient funding, inadequate contractual arrangements, and a lack of local Governor autonomy.
- The long-standing problems with lost and misplaced prisoner property, particularly during transfers, due to an antiquated paper-based system.
- Confusion and delays surrounding the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure projects, with central contractual control appearing slow and fragmented, leading to issues such as wings being without hot water for weeks.
- Inadequate CCTV surveillance in key residential areas, contributing to difficulties in combating bullying and violence.
- Failures in de-escalation of incidents and variable quality in key safety processes like ACCTs and CSIPs, partly due to a large proportion of new, inexperienced staff.
Coldingley
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 163
Assaults: 28
Staff assaults: 35
HMP Coldingley, a Category C training prison, faced significant challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, impacting regime, education, and work. The Board commends staff for maintaining a humane regime, containing Covid-19 outbreaks, and facilitating out-of-cell time. Key concerns include illicit items leading to violence, the lack of in-cell sanitation in older wings, and the poor state of the estate. The report highlights progress in areas like new accommodation pods and education initiatives but calls for addressing long-standing issues such as IPP prisoners and resettlement challenges.
Key concerns identified
- The prevalence of illicit items (drugs, mobile phones, hooch) contributes to increased levels of violence and bullying.
- The absence of in-cell sanitation in older wings results in a basic indignity for prisoners.
- The fabric of older wings and flooring on E wing are in an unsatisfactory state, with repairs taking too long.
- There is continuing concern about the number of IPP prisoners serving many years beyond their tariff.
- Significant waiting times exist for certain healthcare services, notably optician appointments (39 weeks).
- Almost half of all prisoners released go to unknown accommodation.
- The absence of in-cell sanitation in older wings results in a basic indignity for prisoners.
- The fabric of older wings and flooring on E wing are in an unsatisfactory state, with repairs taking too long.
- There is continuing concern about the number of IPP prisoners serving many years beyond their tariff.
- Significant waiting times exist for certain healthcare services, notably optician appointments (39 weeks).
- Almost half of all prisoners released go to unknown accommodation.
Coldingley
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 86
Assaults: 37
Staff assaults: 34
HMP Coldingley, a Category C prison, faced significant operational challenges during the reporting period, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. While staff-prisoner relationships remained positive and healthcare provision was generally well-regarded, serious concerns persisted regarding the chronic absence of in-cell sanitation in older wings, the ongoing influx of illicit items contributing to violence, and severe disruption to education. The Board highlighted efforts to manage the pandemic's impact on the regime and welcomed planned investments to improve the estate.
Key concerns identified
- The persistent volume of illicit drugs, mobile phones, and alcoholic liquid (‘hooch’) entering the prison, which contributes to violence and bullying.
- The unsafe fabric of the four older wings, with slow repairs to broken windows and heating problems.
- The glaring and long-standing absence of in-cell sanitation and hand washing facilities on older wings, affecting nearly 400 prisoners, especially highlighted during Covid-19.
- The disarray in education, marked by staff losses, shortages, and the suspension of classes, even before the Covid-19 outbreak.
- The continued concern about the number of IPP prisoners serving many years beyond their tariff.
- A perceived lack of ‘joined-up thinking’ to detect trends and reliably evaluate the scale of violence and bullying, despite a wealth of statistics.
- A loss of prisoner confidence in the Key Worker scheme since the previous year's survey.
- The unsafe fabric of the four older wings, with slow repairs to broken windows and heating problems.
- The glaring and long-standing absence of in-cell sanitation and hand washing facilities on older wings, affecting nearly 400 prisoners, especially highlighted during Covid-19.
- The disarray in education, marked by staff losses, shortages, and the suspension of classes, even before the Covid-19 outbreak.
- The continued concern about the number of IPP prisoners serving many years beyond their tariff.
- A perceived lack of ‘joined-up thinking’ to detect trends and reliably evaluate the scale of violence and bullying, despite a wealth of statistics.
- A loss of prisoner confidence in the Key Worker scheme since the previous year's survey.